Tuned-in Tapia helps Jays defeat Orioles 6-3

Left-fielder Raimel Tapia performed brilliantly with his bat and glove to carry on a superb September for the Toronto Blue Jays.

TORONTO – Left-fielder Raimel Tapia performed brilliantly with his bat and glove to carry on a superb September for the Toronto Blue Jays.

Tapia’s impressive play in the Blue Jays’ 6-3 win against the Baltimore Orioles on Saturday helped improve Toronto’s record in September to a Major League Baseball-best 13-4.

The back-to-back wins against Baltimore also gave the Blue Jays six series wins in a row and put the club 20 games over .500 for the first time since they finished 2021 at 91-71.

“I feel good,” said Tapia, who has recently enjoyed an abundance of playing time with regular left-fielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr. on the 10-day disabled list with a hamstring strain.

“But even when I’m not playing, I’m staying focused. I’m going to the batting cage because you have to be ready.”

Tapia was ready from the start on Saturday. First, he snagged a fly ball off the bat of Orioles leadoff hitter Cedric Mullins that seemed destined to hit the fence for a double.

Then, in the fifth inning, with the Blue Jays’ lead cut to 3-2, the left-handed hitting Tapia came to the plate with the bases loaded and two out. He slammed a double to centre field to clear the bases.

“I love those moments,” Tapia said. “I love feeding off the fans and their energy.”